goldfish

American  

[gohld-fish] / ˈgoʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

goldfishes plural

1. a small, usually yellow or orange fish, Carassius auratus, of the carp family, native to China, bred in many varieties and often kept in fishbowls and pools.

2. garibaldi.

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goldfish British  

/ ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. a freshwater cyprinid fish, Carassius auratus, of E Europe and Asia, esp China, widely introduced as a pond or aquarium fish. It resembles the carp and has a typically golden or orange-red coloration

2. any of certain similar ornamental fishes, esp the golden orfe See orfe

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• goldfishes
  plural
• goldfish
  plural

Etymology

Origin of goldfish

First recorded in 1690–1700; gold + fish

Explanation

A goldfish is a small, freshwater member of the carp family. If you have a pet that swims around in a glass bowl, chances are good it's a goldfish. Although goldfish are named for their brilliant golden color, they've been carefully bred for thousands of years to look that way. Their original carp ancestors were silvery-gray, with the occasional gold mutation. During China's Tang dynasty, they were often kept in ponds; after being put into small containers indoors, goldfish evolved to their smaller size. They can grow much larger when they're released in the wild, and goldfish are considered an invasive species in many parts of the world today.

Example Sentences

The biggest concern remains the Snacks division, which includes brands such as Goldfish, Snyder’s of Hanover, and Cape Cod.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

It fell 1% in the snacks division due to declines in third-party partner and contract brands, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, fresh bakery, Goldfish crackers and Cape Cod potato chips.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

As there were no Goldfish available in the U.K., the production had them flown in.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

Goldfish announced that it's partnering with Warner Bros.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2025

Except, running home from the school bus always meant running home to see Mom, who would be waiting with chocolate-chip cookies or apples and Goldfish crackers or...or just a hug.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix